I would love to see a Final Fantasy game in which the three females in your party (there are always three) aren't divided up into the three archetypes: the lead (most feminine; love interest; dedicated to a cause or a person; driving force in plot), the older woman (reserved and worldly; voice of reason; don't ask her personal questions or you will endure bodily harm), and the girl (perky and bubbly; extremely emotional; inevitably under 18). I am so tired of this pattern it hurts.
Then you'll want to play Final Fantasy XIII, which broke up the pattern. Of them, Vanille is most like the perky girl archetype, but has some backstory that sets her apart from, say, Rikku or Penelo or Yuffie or Selphie, but Fang and Lightning do not fit the other two archetypes. The game is imperfect in design, but I cannot complain about the playable female characters at all. None are love interests (the only female love interest in the game is a NPC). The wide-eyed magic-using ingenue is male. Below, I describe the three ladies. There's minor spoilers, but I tried to keep it generic.
Lightning: Technically speaking, the lead, though the game. No love interest. Dedicated to saving her sister and later the world. Decidedly unfeminine--very militaristic and frequently punches people when angry. 21. NOT the voice of reason--in fact, her anger leads a male in the party to an action that leads to violence. Can be remarkably unsympathetic and is extremely driven.
Fang: Also 21. Kinda crazy. Fight-happy. Smartassed. Worldly, but not reserved. Willing to "tear down the sky" to save her female companion. Strongest member of the party. NOT the voice of reason. In fact, her anger and determination to save her female companion at all costs nearly leads to the entire party's and the world's destruction. Has more experience than the other party members. No love interest!
Vanille: Aged 19. Perky and bubbly--but this is part of her sham to keep up others' spirits. Often lies to protect others and winds up causing more harm than good with these lies. Is emotional. Has more experience than the other party members. Also no love interest, and the one time one of the guys (accidentally) checks her out, his bird cockblocks him. XD
no subject
Then you'll want to play Final Fantasy XIII, which broke up the pattern. Of them, Vanille is most like the perky girl archetype, but has some backstory that sets her apart from, say, Rikku or Penelo or Yuffie or Selphie, but Fang and Lightning do not fit the other two archetypes. The game is imperfect in design, but I cannot complain about the playable female characters at all. None are love interests (the only female love interest in the game is a NPC). The wide-eyed magic-using ingenue is male. Below, I describe the three ladies. There's minor spoilers, but I tried to keep it generic.
Lightning: Technically speaking, the lead, though the game. No love interest. Dedicated to saving her sister and later the world. Decidedly unfeminine--very militaristic and frequently punches people when angry. 21. NOT the voice of reason--in fact, her anger leads a male in the party to an action that leads to violence. Can be remarkably unsympathetic and is extremely driven.
Fang: Also 21. Kinda crazy. Fight-happy. Smartassed. Worldly, but not reserved. Willing to "tear down the sky" to save her female companion. Strongest member of the party. NOT the voice of reason. In fact, her anger and determination to save her female companion at all costs nearly leads to the entire party's and the world's destruction. Has more experience than the other party members. No love interest!
Vanille: Aged 19. Perky and bubbly--but this is part of her sham to keep up others' spirits. Often lies to protect others and winds up causing more harm than good with these lies. Is emotional. Has more experience than the other party members. Also no love interest, and the one time one of the guys (accidentally) checks her out, his bird cockblocks him. XD